Access and Privacy Online

Access and Privacy Online


Ontario man charged in alleged theft of Texas Republican Party data

An Ontario man is facing charges in an alleged theft and leak of Texas Republican Party data in 2021. The U.S. Department of Justice says the 37-old-man from Oshawa was arrested last week and is facing charges under Canadian law. It says the accused gained unauthorized access to a third-party hosting company’s computer system to […]

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Chemical industry seeks exemptions from US pollution rules as part of Trump administration offer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Industry groups representing hundreds of chemical and petrochemical manufacturers are seeking blanket exemptions from federal requirements to reduce emissions of toxic chemicals such as mercury, arsenic and benzene. The request by the American Chemistry Council and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers comes as the Trump administration offers industrial polluters a chance […]

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Wheatland County establishes Artificial Intelligence policy

Artificial intelligence has continued to grow as a popular technological tool to streamline and make processes more efficient, but as use has grown so, too, have concerns about potential transparency and ethical uses.  During the regular Tuesday, March 4 Wheatland County council meeting, council approved the establishment of a new policy regarding the responsible and […]

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Quebec government tables bill to combat election disinformation and interference

The Quebec government introduced a bill on Thursday to “preserve the integrity of the electoral process” by tackling deliberate disinformation and election interference. The bill tabled by Jean-François Roberge, the province’s minister for democratic institutions, would make it an offence to knowingly spread false information to influence or disturb an election or compromise the public’s […]

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US energy department invites AI data center development at Los Alamos and other federal lands

The U.S. Department of Energy said it has identified 16 federal sites, including storied nuclear research laboratories such as Los Alamos, where tech companies could build data centers in a push to accelerate commercial development of artificial intelligence technology. The sites are “uniquely positioned for rapid data center construction, including in-place energy infrastructure with the […]

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How Transport Canada’s Education on Residential Schools Went So Wrong

Less than an hour into Transport Canada’s online presentation for employees on the legacy of residential schools, things went wrong. The October event was the first in a series to provide the department’s staff across the country with information on the history and impact of residential schools. But it was quickly derailed as attendees made […]

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Trump ordered to pay legal bill of UK firm he sued over Russia dossier

LONDON (AP) — A British judge on Thursday ordered U.S. President Donald Trump to pay more than 625,000 pounds ($820,000) in legal costs to a company he unsuccessfully sued over a dossier alleging he took part in sex acts in Russia. Trump filed a claim in 2022 against Orbis Business Intelligence, a consulting firm founded […]

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Town, MD of Pincher Creek offer financing program for energy-efficient home upgrades

Homeowners in Pincher Creek and area now have a cost-effective way to upgrade their homes for energy efficiency through the Clean Energy Improvement Program. Offered jointly by the town and MD, the program provides low-interest financing to make energy-saving renovations more accessible and affordable. The program, available to legal owners of existing low-rise residential properties, […]

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Montana’s anti-transgender bathroom restrictions are on hold under a judge’s order

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a Montana law that restricts transgender people’s use of bathrooms in public buildings. The measure, which Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed into effect last week, threatened to deprive transgender people of their constitutional right to equal protection under the law, Montana District Court Judge Shane […]

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B.C. quietly allowed an oil and gas giant to sidestep rules for more than 4,300 pipelines

This investigation is a collaboration between The Narwhal and the Investigative Journalism Foundation. The British Columbia government quietly granted one of Canada’s biggest oil and gas companies an exemption for thousands of pipelines that should have been deactivated before a legal deadline, according to documents obtained under freedom of information legislation. In 2020, the BC […]

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Cybersecurity provider offering access to free services after breach affecting HSD

After a January “cybersecurity incident” involving unauthorized access to information, the Horizon School Division notified families that PowerSchool – a cloud-based software vendor used by HSD – had been compromised but then reacted quickly to the problem.  By Feb. 10, the Division told families that PowerSchool had “initiated the process of notifying involved individuals of the incident about […]

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Mass layoffs are underway at the nation’s public health agencies

Employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department received notices Tuesday that their jobs were being eliminated, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health. The cuts include researchers, scientists, doctors, support staff and senior leaders, leaving the federal government without many of […]

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